Japan’s DeNA abruptly announced today that it had replaced DeNA West chief executive Clive Downie with Shintaro Asako.

Above: Clive Downie of DeNA West

Image Credit: DeNA West

Downie headed the U.S.-based DeNA West business, formerly known as Ngmoco, which DeNA acquired for $400 million a couple of years ago. DeNA West published games such as first-person shooter The Drowning for iOS (pictured above) and helped extend the Mobage mobile-social gamer network in the West.

Asako was formerly chief financial officer of DeNA West, and he will now serve as CEO. DeNA did not say where Downie had gone — only that he had resigned his role. Asako has been CFO at DeNA West since 2011. Prior to that, he was CFO at MediciNova.